Brussels, SANA-Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced that Belgium will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly session scheduled for September 9.
“Belgium will join the group of signatories to the New York Declaration, sponsored last July by France and Saudi Arabia, to chart the path toward a two-state solution and thus recognize the Palestinian state,” Reuters quoted Prevost as saying in a post on the X platform. He explained that this decision comes in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in continued violation of international law.
The minister also confirmed that Belgium will impose 12 strict sanctions on Israel, including a ban on imports from settlements and a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies, while pledging support for the reconstruction of Palestine.
With this decision, Belgium joins a number of Western countries—including France, Canada, Australia, Finland, Ireland, and Spain—that have declared their intention to recognize Palestine.
It is noteworthy that the International Court of Justice ruled last year that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and must end immediately.
Nisreen Othman / Manar Salameh
